The Earth is 71% covered by oceans. And while this presents economic opportunities through trade, it is also a considerable challenge for national security. How can you defend against bad actors when most of your territory borders an ocean? How exactly do you constantly watch an open environment where camouflage is more than feasible? For one, with patience. And secondly, with the help of high-quality marine security cameras. Oceans are vast, and because of this, distances between targets are not measured in metres but in kilometres or even tens of kilometres. Have you identified a danger with the naked eye? Then it’s already too late.
Professional maritime surveillance is focused on identifying threats from a considerable distance, which will give us enough time to devise a strike back or protect our objectives. The purpose of marine security cameras is to act as a deterrent to external threats but also to give us enough time to defend our targets adequately. High-quality marine surveillance cameras are not a toy but sophisticated, expensive, complex and robust equipment that can be used in harsh conditions and upgraded according to the customer’s needs.
Professional marine security cameras need to capture both infrared and visible light; they must be sufficiently resistant to corrosion to withstand open ocean use; they must be capable of identifying targets at a distance of more than ten kilometres; and not least, they need to be affordable to operate, especially for private organisations. Are you a government agency, and are you concerned about the number of hazards present next to our borders? Then, investing in marine surveillance cameras would be worthwhile. Are you a private entity, and do you need professional maritime surveillance? Then, investing in professional cameras could be the best financial investment you can make.
Why Is Maritime Surveillance Essential Nowadays?
Maritime border security is fundamental to maintaining the territorial security felt by citizens. Maritime borders are difficult to control, and without a consistent effort aided by professional tools, the consequences can be devastating. Monitoring the naval space of countries is necessary to streamline maritime traffic, increase the safety of trading routes and encourage commerce. Without constant surveillance of the sea routes used by vessels, rescue operations would have a significantly lower success rate, and national economies would suffer.
Using maritime surveillance cameras is also essential for preventing security threats or illegal importation of smuggled goods. From terrorism to unlawful fishing, naval monitoring is vital to avoid economic losses, ensure international protection of vessels entering states’ sovereign territory, and monitor natural environments. Marine surveillance cameras are necessary for search and rescue operations; they are a means by which a comprehensive national defence policy can be successfully implemented; they are a crucial tool for fisheries management; and last but not least, they are cheaper than building more patrolling vessels.
What Is Different About Marine Cameras?
For starters, marine surveillance cameras have to operate in an adverse environment, which would typically result in the failure of a standard surveillance system. Maritime cameras must be waterproofed and resistant to saltwater corrosion. A professional navigational surveillance system should have an IP rating of 67 or more and must resist UV rays and broad temperature changes. The enclosures of thermal marine cameras must be sealed, and it is necessary to use them in conjunction with a gyro, which reduces the level of vibration felt by the sensors, making the image more stable.
Marine cameras must be modular and upgradeable with various accessories such as radars or EO modules. The connectors must be constructed of corrosion-resistant materials, and the camera’s electronic components must be compatible with the other systems used by the ship, such as the AIS equipment. State-of-the-art marine security cameras are not inherently different from their land equivalents, but the environment in which they operate is harsher, with often higher stakes. A failed maritime camera system represents a security threat that bad actors can exploit. Therefore, the design must be rugged and versatile enough for various objectives.
What Should You Seek in a Coastal Surveillance System?
Coastal surveillance systems are used for various applications, from closely monitoring naval targets to environmental protection and fisheries surveillance. A high-quality naval thermal camera will need an EO/IR module, allowing it to record images in both visible and infrared light. EO/IR systems are essential in border control, can often be encountered in search and rescue operations, and are applied for land-based surveillance and military maritime and aviation monitoring.
The electro-optical element of the system ensures daytime visibility. At the same time, the infrared module is utilised for nighttime vision or recording in adverse weather conditions, EO/IR cameras being modular in this respect. Choosing a camera system that can be integrated with SWIR or LWIR sensors and paired with gyroscopes or radars is also essential. SWIR systems operate on a wavelength range of sub 3 micrometres, which means they can penetrate materials like glass and be paired with technologies like facial recognition. LWIR operates on a wavelength between 8 and 14 micrometres, which makes these systems perfect for long-range target detection.
What you select depends on your needs. But by and large, SWIR cameras are more expensive as they usually require active cooling. Especially important is also to choose a modular camera system that can be tuned with multiple lenses. Wide-angle lenses, usually under 6 mm, can be used for a wide field of view. These do not offer a high zoom but are ideal for general surveillance. If remote management is preferred, the acquired system can be paired up with telephoto lenses in excess of 200mm. Telephoto lenses are more restrictive regarding usage but have an impressive zoom and are, therefore, perfect for maritime uses.
It Can Be Necessary
Investing in professional marine security cameras is a necessity nowadays. And the reasons have to do with the interconnectivity of our world. High-quality maritime surveillance cameras are required to monitor vessels entering the national territory of countries, preventing access of bad actors to land ports and enabling prompt assistance in search and rescue situations. Naval monitoring is the only way to verify compliance with environmental factors in a given area. In addition, it is an aid that can help ship captains navigate more easily through dangerous waters and can be a tool to prevent collisions and external threats.
Naval security cameras are not toys or intended for small-scale use. For this reason, maritime surveillance systems are mainly deployed by coastal guards or private organisations wishing to provide security for their naval fleet. Are they cheap? No, but naval monitoring systems are the most effective way to prevent mishaps before they devastate your safety and financial data. Prevention is the name of the game when talking about naval surveillance. And in the hands of professionals, naval cameras can be the best tool to ensure the long-term safety of your strategic objectives.